Cruisin Fever to Alaska: Inviting Walters Cove

Beautiful West Coast Vancouver Island

Java Enjoying Her Ride

After our kayaking adventure on Big Bunsby Island, we left the next day, cruising down the coast through islets and shallows with calm seas. Java soaked up the sun and enjoyed her window-side seat atop the helm station. Being south of Brooks Peninsula meant finding civilization once again starting with the community of Walters Cove in Kyuquot Sound/Inlet. We arrived at Walters Cove on Walters Island around 13:00 and moored at the Public Wharf - another successful docking by Lorena. In addition to several adorable and well-kept B&B’s, four fishing lodges add to the local economy. The Houpsitas Native village occupies the south and north shores of Walters Cove. The local grocery store at the head of the Wharf receives stock for the store via the “Uchuck III,” originally built in 1942 as a Mine Sweeper. The “Uchuck III” delivers fuel, hardware, tourists, and locals as well as groceries to the Public Wharf on Thursdays. Tourists pay a handsome price to ride the “Uchuck III” (nicknamed the “Upchuck” during bad weather); dinner is included at the Walters Cove Inn plus overnight accommodations in the community. The Restaurant and Coffee Shop at Walters Cove Inn are housed in the old school house built in 1917 for the white community. The school was not integrated until the 1950’s. Today’s school, located on the Native Reserve, is fully integrated and both white and Native children play with each other between the two neighborhoods. Walters Cove Inn also serves as a local’s gathering place; we enjoyed some delicious strawberry-rhubarb pie and a latte while using their free WiFi Internet connection. We felt like one of the locals participating in the conversation, enjoying our pie, and working on the Internet along with about a half dozen other folks. We discovered the Coffee Shop/Inn by walking a dirt trail through the woods, passing several private homes and a fishing resort. Boardwalks and gravel pathways also serve as sidewalks for the community, including the grocery store and B&B's - all with beach-front access of course. Walters Cove is definitely an inviting place with lots of character; we were tempted to stay and build a cabin or lodge of our own.